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Tracking the Tacking of Holmes Hole Sailors

The Holmes Hole Sailing Association continued its summer series of handicap sailboat racing from Vineyard Haven Harbor on Sunday, August 3, with the Chappy Rendezvous Race.

It was a cloudy morning with a west wind of five to 10 knots and a forecasted threat of rain. Twelve boats posted for the start at red nun 6 outside of the Vineyard Haven breakwater.

The fleet raced across the starting line at 10 a.m. and sailed to can 27a at East Chop on a broad reach and run. Rounding the can, the skippers ran downwind across Cow Bay to red nun number 4 near Cape Pogue. After rounding nun 4 to port to port, the fleet continued on a broad reach on the port tack to green can 3. After jibing around the can, the boats sailed a close reach on the starboard tack to the finish line at red nun 8 at the entrance to Edgartown Harbor.

In the A division, first was Roger Becker in his C& C 24, Gloria. In second was Jerry Goodale in his Pearson 31, Stormalong. In third was John Amabile in Solitude.

In the B division, first place went to John and Lisa Stout in the Gannon and Benjamin Sloop, Isabella. In second was Alan Wilson in the Marshall Cat, High Tide. In third was Dan Culkin in the Vineyard Vixen, Magic Time.

On Sunday, July 27, the association held its Tarpaulin Cove Rendezvous Race. Tarpaulin Cove is a beautiful and historic inlet on Naushon Island, across Vineyard Sound from Lambert’s Cove.

It was an overcast morning with a south-southwest wind of 15 knots. Fifteen boats posted for the 10 a.m. start at red nun 6 outside of the Vineyard Haven breakwater. The fleet sailed across the line downwind and made for the only mark of the course, red nun 4 at West Chop.

From there, a strategic chess match ensued with each captain and navigator trying to predict where in Vineyard Sound the most favorable wind and current would be found. Most skippers opted to turn hard around West Chop and sail up the sound inside of the Middle Ground Shoal. Others opted to sail a lay line course on port tack on the west side of the shoal.

It quickly became apparent that the latter choice was better, and many of the boats inside of the shoal crossed over. This included a guest boat, Perception, a deep-draft schooner, which nudged the bottom while crossing the shallow water.

In the A division, first was Don Rappoport in the J 35, Juliani. In second was Jerry Goodale in his Pearson 31, Stormalong. In third was Roger Becker in his C& C 24 Gloria.

In the B division, first place went to Alan Wilson in the Marshall Cat, High Tide. In second was Magic Time, a Vineyard Vixen 29 sailed by Dan Culkin. In third was Sandy Alexander in Falcor.

The summer racing series continues with two harbor races on Sunday, August 10 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. New members are encouraged, as are guest boats. Anyone interested should get in touch with Diane Hartmann at 508-693-4592.